Higher Education, Research and Development in Africa – CSU’s History and Future

The first conference on African ecosystems and societies at Colorado State University

CSU’s Lory Student Center

Friday, April 13th 2012

CONFERENCE INTRODUCTION

This conference will explore the potential for a campus-wide initiative to address the multifaceted and serious challenges facing African ecosystems and societies via Colorado State University’s African Ecosystems and Societies Program (AESoP), which is based at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Warner College of Natural Resources.  With broad participation from across campus by individuals who have previously engaged, are currently engaged, or aspire to engage in research and education in Africa, we anticipate the emergence of many exciting new ideas for synergizing our collective knowledge, experiences, and aspirations for the long-term sustainability and vitality of African ecosystems and societies in the broadest and most integrated sense. Our collective and multidisciplinary efforts have a variety of potential linkages through human livelihoods, cultures, economies and politics, as well as through uses and/or protection of common natural resources and landscapes.

We are fortunate to have a Kenyan delegation visiting CSU from the University of Nairobi, a community NGO, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.  We have incorporated our visitors into the program to bring the voices of African scientists and educators into this discussion with the goal of informing CSU’s vision of research, education, and action on the  African continent.

Please distribute this announcement to faculty, scientists, students and others who might be interested in attending.  All are welcome!

Coffee and tea will be provided. 

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Morning Sessions:  Introduction to the Issues
CSU Senate Chambers

9:00-9:30             Introduction to the Conference and AESoP

                            Dr. John Moore, Dr. Michael Coughenour, Dr. Robin Reid

9:30-9:45             Welcome and opening remarks

                            Dr. James Cooney, CSU Vice Provost of International Affairs

 9:45-10:00          Opening Remarks

                            Professor Peter Mbithi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya

10:00-10:45         Panel #1: Problems of Sustainable Development in Africa

                            Dr. Kathleen Galvin, CSU Department of Anthropology

                            Dr. Carl Hammerdorfer, CSU College of Business

                            Dr. J. Terrence McCabe, Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder

                            Dr. David Nkedianye, Deputy Director, Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies, , University of Nairobi, and Reto-o-Reto Foundation

                            Professor Peter Gufu Oba, Professor of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

                            Moderators:  Dr. Jesse Njoka, University of Nairobi; Dr. Robin Reid, Center for Collaborative Conservation, CSU

10:45-11:00         Tea and Coffee Break

11:00-11:45         Panel #2: The Role of Higher Education in Sustainable Development in Africa

                            Dr. Brett Bruyere, Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, CSU

                            Dr. Robin Reid, Director, Center for Collaborative Conservation, CSU

                            Professor Charles Mulei Matiku, Dean of Veterinary Science, University of Nairobi

                            Professor Agnes Mwang’ombe, Principal of Faculty, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi

                            Professor Jesse Njoka, Director, Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies (CSDES), University of Nairobi

                            Moderators:  Dr. David Nkedianye, CSDES and Reto-O-Reto Foundation, Kenya; Dr. Stacy Lynn, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, CSU

11:45-1:00           Lunch Break

Afternoon Sessions: Overviews of Africa-related Research in CSU Colleges

Lory Student Center, Rooms 224-226

1:00-1:30             CSU’s College of Liberal Arts

                            Dr. Kathleen Galvin, Department of Anthropology

                            Dr. Thaddeus Sunseri, Department of History

1:30-2:00             CSU College of Engineering

                            Dr. Bryan Willson, Director, Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory

 2:00-2:30            CSU College of Agriculture

                            Dr. Nancy Irlbeck, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

2:30-3:00             CSU Warner College of Natural Resources

                            Dr. David Swift, Senior Research Scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory

3:00-3:30             CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

                            Dr. Christine Hardy,  Director of Operations, Animal Cancer Center

                            Dr. Richard Bowen, Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Head of the Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change Collaborative Research Support Program (LCC CRSP)

3:30-4:00             CSU College of Business

                            Dr. Carl Hammerdorfer, Director, Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program (tentative)

4:00-4:15             The Higher Education for Development Project: Transforming Higher Education in African Drylands

                            Dr. Robin Reid, Director, Center for Collaborative Conservation, CSU

                            Professor Jesse Njoka, Director, Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies (CSDES), University of Nairobi

4:15-4:30             Reflection and Visioning a Way Forward

4:30-5:30             Informal social — Building partnerships and continuing dialog

                            Avogadro’s Number, 605 South Mason St., Fort Collins

Thank you to our sponsors: USAID and the Higher Education for Development (HED) program; the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL), CSU; and the Center for Collaborative Conservation (CCC), CSU.